Sunday - March 06, 2016

KotOR - First Gameplay Footage of the Remake

by Hiddenx, 00:18

Couch spotted this first video of Apeiron's Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic:

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MrMattyPlays:

Today, I am proud to present the FIRST EVER gameplay footage for the upcoming remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic by Apeiron. Be sure to share with all the Star Wars fans as well as leaving your feedback for the development team down below in the comments!

Monday - February 15, 2016

KotOR - Remake with Unreal 4 Engine

Knights Of The Old Republic Gets Fan Treatment, Unreal Engine 4-powered Remake Under Development

KOTOR fans, get ready for a treat. Poem Studios is currently working on a fan remake/reboot of Knights of the Old Republic in Unreal Engine 4. According to the team, this game will be 100% free, will be called Apeiron, and is described as a remake and remastering of the original game with added content, new worlds, missions, HUD, inventory, items, and compainions.

Tuesday - August 11, 2015

KotOR - Rumor - HD Remake Coming?

by Gorath, 14:27

Straight from the rumor mill: A Knights of the Old Republic HD remake is in the works!?Cinelinx writes they've been sitting on the story for quite a while but have decided to post it now because suddenly 3 independent sources confirmed it.

But I keep hearing this bit of info and where there's smoke, there's typically fire of some kind...Though even these plans can change. I've heard from multiple sources that Knights of the Old Republic is getting an update for the current generation consoles...and I'm not talking about a resolution remaster; an actual upgrade to the game to make it enjoyable for both new and returning gamers. Better yet, I'm hearing it'll be coming sooner than you think: [...]

Interesting. KotOR is no longer canon, but it was a huge hit. Let's hope it's true.

Monday - March 16, 2015

KotOR - Shield Interview @ GamerHubTV

BioWare's epic RPG, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, is coming to Nvidia Shield devices from Aspyr. The massive Xbox game has been ported to Android and enhanced for Tegra technology. Check out this exclusive gameplay interview with Michael Blair from GDC 2015 in San Francisco.

Friday - May 09, 2014

KotOR - Retrospective @ High Score Reviews

by Couchpotato, 05:19

High Score Reviews has posted a late review for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic that reads more like a retrospective article in my humble opinion.

Set 4,000 years before the rise of the Galactic Empire as seen in the film saga, KOTOR was a truly remarkable achievement in how it was able to expand the and deepen the history of the Star Wars universe, whilst still managing to weave a gripping narrative to call its own. Opening with a Republic vessel under siege from the Sith, with one particular shot deliberately evoking memories of A New Hope’s unforgettable introduction of Tantive IV, KOTOR was instantly engaging by wasting no time in presenting a galactic war between the Republic and the Sith, and placing you right in the middle of it. It really didn’t take long for it to be established that KOTOR was going to tell an infinitely more enjoyable tale than that of The Phantom Menace’s trade disputes and planetary blockades.

KOTOR took everything that was so fantastic about Lucas’ original creation, and crafted what, in my mind at least, will always be the true Star Wars prequel. An epic war between the Jedi and Sith, gloriously well realised planetary escapes, iconic spacecraft, great characters, a mind bending plot twist and a satisfying conclusion. Heck, even the cover art was awesome. The way the narrative was structured made it feel like one long trilogy contained within one fantastic game, and it was without a doubt the best Star Wars experience I’ve ever had in gaming.

Thursday - August 22, 2013

KotOR - Retrospective @ Bit-Tech

by Couchpotato, 00:25

Bit-Tech has a new retrospective for Knights of the Old Republic that covers all ten years of the game franchise.

Since the first screening of The Phantom Menace, some might even argue as far back as Return of the Jedi, a curious inverse correlation has become apparent with regard to Star Wars, namely the more lightsabers a Star Wars film features, the worse it tends to be. The earlier films feature far more space dogfights and hanging out with alien gangsters than they do fighting with magic laser sticks, whereas the prequel trilogy are so abundant with lightsabers you'd think they grew on really dangerous trees.

The trend is evident in games too. Many of the better Star Wars games; Dark Forces, the X-Wing series, Galactic Battlegrounds and Republic Commando are all devoid of po-faced Jedi wielding deadly neon tubes, opting for more novel ways to explore and expand the Star Wars Universe (and George Lucas' wallet). It isn't simply the case that lightsaber = bad Star Wars game, there are exceptions such as the excellent Jedi Knight games. It's more that those films and games which don't really understand Star Wars immediately reach for the lightsaber as a crutch, which is a terrible idea as it will burn straight through your armpit.

Knights of the Old Republic is something of an anomalous result, as it probably features more lightsabers than the rest of the canon combined, yet it is astonishingly good, and not just in the "a lot of silly fun" way that the Jedi Knight games are good.

Wednesday - July 17, 2013

KotOR - 10 Years Later

by Couchpotato, 01:51

James Ohlen the Creative Director at BioWare talks about the tenth anniversary of KOTOR.

I’m James Ohlen, Studio Creative Director at BioWare. You probably know me as the Game Director on Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, but I’ve also been the lead designer of older BioWare games such as Baldur’s Gate 1+2, Neverwinter Nights, Dragon Age and Star Wars™: Knights of the Old Republic™.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic turns ten years old today. Due to the influence KotOR had on the vision of The Old Republic, we’re celebrating the day in several ways. We’re putting a KotOR related player title up for sale in the Cartel Market for 10 Cartel Coins. In addition, we’re giving away free Cartel Coins on Facebook at 10:00 am today and throughout the day worldwide, but that is not all! For more, make sure to read our announcement here.

I’d like to take the opportunity to discuss the influence Knights of the Old Republic had on SWTOR.

Back in 2006, when we first discussed doing a MMORPG we threw around a lot of different ideas. We wrote up pitches for a number of other very popular intellectual properties. Some pitches never made it past BioWare, while others went a little further.

We eventually decided on a Star Wars MMORPG set in The Old Republic era. Why? It was clear that SWTOR was what our fans wanted and the obvious best choice. Knights of the Old Republic is one of the games that defined what BioWare is to modern fans. It didn’t just influence SWTOR; most of the team that worked on it went on to create the Mass Effect franchise.

There are many reasons why Knights of the Old Republic resonated so much with fans. But a simple one was the fact that the Star Wars IP is a natural fit for RPGs. Since the first movie was released in 1977, fans have wanted to live in that universe. As children, a lot of you probably used action figures to create your own stories in the Star Wars galaxy. RPGs are just a more sophisticated way of immersing yourself in another world. Knights of the Old Republic also drew inspiration from the original trilogy. A lot of fans were looking for a story that evoked the spirit of the original trilogy and Knights of the Old Republic seemed to give them that. And of course there was the famous twist.

Sunday - July 14, 2013

KotOR - 10th Anniversary Interview

To celerbate the tenth anniversary of KOTOR GameAgent has an interview with Lead Designer James Ohlen.

Jon Carr: Can you introduce yourself to our readers and explain the role you had in creating Knights Of The Old Republic?

James Ohlen: My name is James Ohlen. Currently I’m a VP/Studio Creative Director at EA/Bioware. I’ve worked as Game Director on Star Wars: The Old Republic as well as lead designer on Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, Neverwinter Nights and Dragon Age: Origins. I was the lead designer on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. In that role I handled story, level design and game systems.

JC: You were also lead designer on Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights. How did your role in creating those games influence the development and vision of KOTOR?

JO: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was built on all of the learning we gained about storytelling and level design from the Baldur’s Gate games. The Neverwinter Nights engine was used to build KOTOR, so that game had a big influence on the game systems we put into KOTOR.

JC: Given the large amount of Star Wars movies, games and books, how did you decide on the timeframe and story for KOTOR?

JO: We wanted a timeframe that gave us the freedom to tell an epic story where the player’s choices could impact the entire galaxy. That would be difficult during the movie era as Luke, Han and Leia were the movers and shakers of that time period. So we decided to base the game in The Old Republic era. Even though the game takes place thousands of years ago, we felt it was important that it feel similar in tone to the original trilogy, both in story and in art style.

Tuesday - July 09, 2013

KotOR - Retrospective @ Gamersbliss

by Couchpotato, 00:33

Gamersbliss has a brief retrospective for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. In the articles own words better late than never.

As far as gameplay goes, the battle system is extremely user-friendly and easy to navigate. The d20 model is appropriate given the different types of weapons and magic used by the various character classes and their unique modifiers. The upgrade interface is quite straightforward, and the lightsaber crystal structure provides a nice degree of customization.

In addition, players have the opportunity to choose the Light side or the Dark side of the Force in various situations. Whether it’s choosing to keep someone alive, helping local thugs or picking unnecessary fights, what you do (or even say) can affect your alignment. You can choose to remain neutral, but your character must be categorized as either Light or Dark to use certain weapons, wear certain armor and gain certain abilities. This aspect of the game gives it strong replayability. I know I’m going to make an “evil” character the next time around.

Overall, I can’t believe I missed out on this game for so long! I can see myself playing through it multiple times and, given the sequel’s reputation, look forward to Knights of the Old Republic II. If it’s anything like the original, it should be a great game too!

Saturday - July 06, 2013

KotOR - 10 Year Anniversary

by Couchpotato, 04:19

EA and Bioware want you to celebrate KOTOR’s 10 Year Anniversary. They are offering the following gifts to players.

We are happy to announce that on July 15th we will be celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Knights of the Old Republic™ from BioWare and LucasArts. To mark this celebration, we will be doing a couple of things both in-game, and out. Here are some of the things you can look forward to:

A blog from BioWare Creative Director, James Ohlen, where he talks about KOTOR and how it helped set the stage for making Star Wars™: The Old Republic™.

A brand new title “Revan’s Heir” coming to the Cartel Market for only 24 hours at the low price of 10 Cartel Coins! (July 15 2AM CT to July 16 2AM CT)

Cartel Coin giveaways throughout the day on the official Star Wars: The Old Republic Facebook Page.

We hope you will join us in celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Knights of the Old Republic.

Once per Galactic Standard Month, the Bounty Brokers Association (BBA) posts a list of contracts in the Cartel Bazaar section of the Fleet. Each contract outlines the parameters of a bounty that has been posted on one of many planets across the galaxy, including contact information for the client who posted the bounty and a list of underworld contacts in the sector who may be persuaded to assist you in the hunt. Targets include members of crime syndicates, violent gangs, and various other law-breaking entities. High-profile targets, designated “Kingpins,” may only be hunted through Kingpin Contracts, which are entrusted to professionals who have a proven track record with the BBA.

Bounty contracts will take you far and wide in the search for your target, but the BBA Mission Terminal allows you to select the specific planet on which you wish to hunt. Each day, you may sign up for one standard contract and one Kingpin Contract, and each may take you to a separate planet. Completion of a contract requires the death or capture of your target, but you will also be rated on your investigative technique and your aptitude for handling BBA underworld resources.

The Bounty Broker’s Association is an unaffiliated corporate conglomerate that exists to streamline and standardize the process of posting and fulfilling bounty contracts. Contracts are available to characters at level 15+, and although contracts on some planets have a minimum level requirement, each contract will scale its difficulty and rewards to your level.

Saturday - June 01, 2013

KotOR - More iPad Reviews

Aside from the new touchscreen controls, everything else is still here from the original. There's a deep character creation system, the light/dark side morality system that would eventually heavily influence Mass Effect, and just hours and hours of excellent stories and character, all portrayed with perfectly tuned Star Wars dialog (HK-47, if you've never met him, is one of the best droids of all time). The graphics do look like they were made in 2003, because, you know, they were. But the draw here is the story and the experience, and the graphics don't hold either of those back.

Aspyr has done a great job here, and delivered a truly classic experience to the iPad with gusto. $9.99 is a premium price for an iPad app, but this is a premium game if ever there was one, and if you're interested in playing Knights of the Old Republic (or just interested in playing it again), loading this one on to your iPad is worth every penny.

While people often have said that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was the game that finally realized the potential for the Star Wars universe, that's not true: KOTOR is way better written than most of the Star Wars films. If you missed KOTOR the first time it came out, or never had the hardware to run it, you owe it to yourself to check out easily one of the best RPGs of all time, and yes, likely the best Star Wars game, too.

Playing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the iPad is like curling up with a dog-eared copy of a beloved book. It's a more personal and immediate means of tripping through a galaxy far away a long, long, long, long time ago. While the overall experience is largely unchanged, those tiny moments between you, Mission Vao, and a raging Rancor beast are much more intimate when you can touch the screen sadly before searching for a FAQ on the internet to aid your failing memory.

Playing on PC with mods that improve a lot of the graphics and core gameplay is still the best way to play KOTOR in 2013, but this release crushes the competition on iPad. Don’t let the unconventional controls scare you away.

Neither EA, BioWare, or Aspyr (which handled this port) responded with anything but a "no comment" when asked about further back-catalog releases or the possibility of bringing this to Android, sadly.

Thursday - May 30, 2013

KotOR - iPad Review

by Myrthos, 12:41

Apparently Bioware's 10 year old Knights of the Old Republic has been ported to the iPad and IGN has a review of it in which they award it an 8.8. As could be expected of a PC to iPad port some of the controls don't work out too well

If the new controls have one Achilles' Heel, though, it’s in the movement. Running from place to place involves dragging and then holding a finger to guide your Jedi in the proper direction. This inevitably blocks a significant chunk of the screen with your hand, and worse yet, makes for awkward running in general. It was not uncommon to find myself hitting pieces of the environment or my fellow party members, and then needing to turn and fumble my way out of that spot. This isn’t a problem during combat, at least, since movement is automated. A trio of brief turret sequences present similar imprecision, since tapping to shoot and dragging to move can’t be done simultaneously. A virtual stick may have actually been preferable in this case.

Wednesday - July 25, 2012

KotOR - Retrospective @ Elder Geek

The other half is about talking to people and making the now infamous moral choices. There are a lot of choices you have to make and most of them are either super nice or super nasty. For example, you can give money to someone to help them buy medical supplies, or you can just kill them on the spot because you can. As you make choices your morality meter goes towards the light side or the dark side and you get boosts in certain force powers depending on how much of a dick you feel like being that day.

Monday - April 27, 2009

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic - Retrospective #3 @ RPS

by Dhruin, 11:48

The third part of Bastards of the Old Republic is up at Eurogamer, with John Walker wrapping up his walk on the evil side. Spoilers apply, obviously:

But Manaan's most glorious opportunity for an utter extreme of wrongdoing is in its main quest. You learn that the Star Map is blocked by a gigantic fish beast previously thought to be only mythological. It lies on the other side of an underwater Republic scientific research facility, in which all the Selkath have gone mad and tried to kill everyone. A couple of surviving scientists tell you two ways it might be possible to kill the enormous shark-thing. One involves polluting the water it's in with an untested toxin, the other overloading the machinery with a special gas that will destroy the enter base.

Monday - March 23, 2009

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic - Retrospective #2 @ RPS

Part Two of Bastards of the Old Republic has been posted at Eurogamer with John Walker recording his walk on the evil side of KotOR. The opening:

I need to tell you how I came to be standing on a strange oceanic planet, being asked by a complete stranger to murder people all around the galaxy. And why I had a smile on my face.

"Get over it," I told Mission, the 14-year-old Twi'lek who had joined my party. She was confiding in me about the horror of her home planet being utterly destroyed. The Sith had completely obliterated the population of Taris, countless millions had been slaughtered, and everything she had ever known or loved, beyond one Wookiee, was gone. Move on, whiny child.

Sunday - February 22, 2009

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic - Retrospective @ RPS

When I play a BioWare role-playing game, my characters tend to not only lean toward the nicer side, but almost immediately start twinkling with the magical pixie dust of purity. It's embarrassing, but I just make the decisions I believe I'd really make, and end up that way.

The task I set myself was to play the original Knights of the Old Republic, making the worst, cruellest, most spiteful, murderous and downright evil choices available at every choice. I've played the game before - in fact, it's one of my all-time favourites - but I was the most angelic creature in the galaxy. This wasn't going to be easy. This is the story of mysterious Republic Scoundrel, Simon Evil, and his adventures on the planet Taris.